System and method for applying insulation to foundation walls

ABSTRACT

A system for applying insulation to foundation walls, including a plurality of partitions, each partition defining a longitudinal axis and including a base configured to be fastened to an interior surface of a foundation wall and a baffle extending from the base along an axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the partition.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Particulate, adhesive insulation, usually composed of cellulose, isfrequently blown onto interior surfaces of the foundation walls of adwelling to help reduce the effect of outdoor ambient air temperature onthe air temperature inside the dwelling. In some instances, suchinsulation includes a heightened percentage of boric acid or otherpesticides in order to also serve the function of killing insect pestsin the foundation of the dwelling that, without pesticide, may live andbreed in the foundation and ultimately infest the interior of thedwelling. But regardless of whether the insulation includes a pesticide,a system and method for consistent, uniform application of theinsulation is desirable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a foundation wall with asystem according to an embodiment of the invention installed thereon;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken through line 2-2 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken through line 3-3 ofFIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the system shown in FIG.1 being installed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A portion of a foundation wall of a dwelling is shown broadly atreference numeral 10 in FIG. 1 with a longitudinal axis “X1”. A systemfor applying insulation to foundation walls 11 is installed on aninterior surface 12 of the wall 10. The system 11 includes a pluralityof substantially parallel, spaced apart partitions 13, each of whichdefines a longitudinal axis “X2”. Each pair of adjacent partitions 13defines a cell 14 for receiving particulate adhesive insulation 15 suchas blown cellulose insulation. Looking also at FIG. 2, each partition 13comprises a base 16 of two opposing, wall-engaging base panels 17configured to be fastened to the interior surface 12 of the wall 10 insubstantially parallel relation thereto, and a baffle 20 extending fromthe base 16 along an axis “X3” (FIG. 2) substantially perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis “X2” defined by the partition 13. In oneembodiment, the partition 13 may be formed from a single, continuouspiece of sheet metal. The partition 13 formed in this manner comprises afirst base panel 21, a first bend 22 forming a first angle “A” ofapproximately 90 degrees, a first baffle panel 23, a second bend 24defining an outwardmost edge 25 and forming a second angle “B” ofapproximately 340-355 degrees, a second baffle panel 30, a third bend 31forming a third angle “C” of approximately 90 degrees, and a second basepanel 33. The first and second baffle panels 23, 30 comprise opposingmajor surfaces 26, 27 of the baffle 20. Optionally, the opposing majorsurfaces 26 of the baffle 20 may each define a groove 34, 36. Thegrooves 34, 36 are substantially aligned with one another and aresubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axis “X2” of the associatedpartition 13.

The partition 13 may be either unitary, for instance in the continuoussheet metal embodiment described above, or in the alternative, anassembly of multiple components. Another unitary embodiment of thepartition 13 may comprise a baffle (not shown) that includes a singlebaffle panel having opposing major surfaces substantially parallel toone another that optionally define opposing grooves. In any event, thebaffle 20 may be unported in order to more effectively isolate adjacentcells 14 from one another, and the size of the baffle 20 may be adjustedsuch that the distance between the outwardmost edge 25 of the baffle 20and the interior surface 12 of the wall 10 enables the cells 14 toaccommodate a sufficient amount of insulation to comply with prevailingbuilding codes.

Optionally, the system 11 may further comprise a drape 35 and aplurality of clips 40 (FIGS. 1 and 3) to be installed to obscure one ormore of the cells 14 and to retain the insulation 15 in place. The drape35 is installed by utilizing the plurality of clips 40 to attach thedrape 35 to the partitions 13. As shown in FIG. 3, each of the clips 40comprises a pair of legs 41, each leg 41 terminating at a foot 42oriented substantially perpendicularly to the leg 41. A portion of thedrape 35 may be grasped between the legs 41 of the clip 40 and the feet42 of the clip 40 may then be inserted into the opposing grooves 34defined by the baffle panels 23, 30 of the partition 13, therebyutilizing the clips 40 to clip the drape 35 to the partition 13. Thedrape 35 may also be attached to floor joists 43 (FIG. 1) in order tocover a band board 44 (FIG. 1) between the wall 10 and a subfloor 45(FIG. 1). The drape 35 may be porous or nonporous fabric.

In addition, the system 11 may optionally further comprise a bottomledge 50 formed and configured in a substantially identical mannerdescribed above relative to the partitions 13 but oriented below and insubstantially perpendicular relation to the partitions 13 on theinterior surface 12 of the wall 10. For instance, the bottom ledge 50may be unitary or an assembly of multiple components and may definegrooves (not shown) substantially identical to the grooves 34, 36defined by the partitions 13. In addition, the bottom ledge 50 comprisesfirst and second base panels 51, 52 and a baffle 53. The bottom ledge 50may be installed along the interior surface 12 of the wall 10 either insegments (not shown) or as a single unit, as available materials permit.The drape 35 may optionally be clipped to the bottom ledge 50 in thesame manner as the drape 35 is clipped to the partitions 13.

The system 11 is installed and used in the following manner. Thepartitions 13 and the bottom ledge 50 are provided and installed on thewall 10 by ram setting, nailing, or otherwise fastening the base panels21, 33 of each partition 13 to the interior surface 12 of the wall 10with fasteners 54. Ground-covering material such as plastic sheeting(not shown) may be fastened underneath the second base panel 52 of thebottom ledge 50 in order to help provide a more impervious barrierbetween the ground and the foundation. Insulation 15 is applied to thewall 10 and in the cells 14 using insulation and insulation blowingequipment known to those of ordinary skill in the art. As shown in FIG.4, excess insulation “E” is applied to overflow the cells 14 such that,along an axis “X4” substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis“X1” of the wall 10, at least a portion of the insulation 15 is furtherfrom the interior surface 12 of the wall 10 than from the outwardmostedges 25 of the baffles 20 of the partitions 13. A tool “T” comprising awork portion “W” that defines a longitudinal axis “X5” substantiallyparallel to the such as a scraper or other tool known to those ofordinary skill in the art is then obtained, oriented to contact theoutwardmost edges 25 of adjacent baffles 20, and moved along theoutwardmost edges 25 of adjacent baffles 20 to remove the excessinsulation “E” that extends beyond the outwardmost edges 25 of thebaffles 20 along the axis “X4”. Optionally, the drape 35 and theplurality of clips 40 may then be installed in the manner describedabove.

A system and method for applying insulation to foundation walls isdescribed above. Although the disclosed embodiments of the inventioninclude the best mode for practicing the invention, the disclosedembodiments may be modified without departing from the scope of theinvention. The precise scope of the invention is set forth in thefollowing claims.

1. A system for applying insulation to foundation walls, comprising: aplurality of partitions, each partition defining a longitudinal axis andcomprising a base configured to be fastened to an interior surface of afoundation wall, and a baffle extending from the base along an axissubstantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the partition.2. A system according to claim 1, wherein each baffle comprises twoopposing major surfaces.
 3. A system according to claim 2, wherein thetwo opposing major surfaces of at least a portion of the baffles eachdefine a groove, the grooves defined by the opposing major surfaces of asingle baffle being substantially aligned with one another andsubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the associatedpartition.
 4. A system according to claim 3, further comprising aplurality of clips and a drape, each of the clips being configured forengagement with a portion of the drape and for insertion into theopposing grooves defined by the opposing major surfaces of the baffle ofone of the plurality of partitions.
 5. A system for applying insulationto foundation walls, comprising: a foundation wall comprising aninterior surface; a plurality of partitions, each partition defining alongitudinal axis and comprising a base fastened to the interior surfaceof the foundation wall, and a baffle extending from the base along anaxis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of thepartition.
 6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the plurality ofpartitions are spaced apart and substantially parallel to one another.7. A system according to claim 5, wherein each baffle comprises twoopposing major surfaces.
 8. A system according to claim 7, wherein thetwo opposing major surfaces of at least a portion of the baffles eachdefine a groove, the grooves defined by the opposing major surfaces of asingle baffle being substantially aligned with one another andsubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the associatedpartition.
 9. A system according to claim 8, further comprising aplurality of clips and a drape, wherein each of the clips engage aportion of the drape and partially reside within the opposing groovesdefined by the opposing major surfaces of the baffle of one of theplurality of partitions.
 10. A method for applying insulation tofoundation walls, comprising: providing a plurality of partitions, eachpartition defining a longitudinal axis and comprising a base configuredto be fastened to an interior surface of a foundation wall and a bafflecomprising an outwardmost edge and extending from the base along an axissubstantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the partition;fastening the bases of the partitions to the interior surface of thefoundation wall; applying insulation to the foundation wall such thatalong an axis substantially perpendicular to the foundation wall, anexcess portion of the insulation is further from the interior surface ofthe foundation wall than from the outwardmost edges of the baffles ofthe plurality of partitions; obtaining an insulation removal toolcomprising a work portion that defines a longitudinal axis substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axis of the foundation wall; selecting thebaffles of at least two adjacent partitions for contact by the workportion of the insulation removal tool; contacting the outwardmost edgesof the selected baffles with the work portion of the insulation removaltool; and moving the work portion of the insulation removal tool alongthe outwardmost edges of the selected baffles such that the excessportion of the insulation between the selected baffles is removed.
 11. Amethod according to claim 10, wherein the baffle of each partition ofthe plurality of partitions provided in said providing step comprisestwo opposing major surfaces.
 12. A method according to claim 11, whereinthe two opposing major surfaces of at least a portion of the baffles ofthe plurality of partitions provided in said providing step each definea groove, the grooves defined by the opposing major surfaces of a singlebaffle being substantially aligned with one another and substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axis of the associated partition.
 13. Amethod according to claim 10, further comprising: providing a pluralityof clips and a drape; and utilizing the plurality of clips to clip thedrape to at least a portion of the baffles of the plurality ofpartitions.
 14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the baffle ofeach partition of the plurality of partitions provided in said providingstep comprises two opposing major surfaces.
 15. A method according toclaim 14, wherein the two opposing major surfaces of at least a portionof the baffles of the plurality of partitions provided in said providingstep each define a groove, the grooves defined by the opposing majorsurfaces of a single baffle being substantially aligned with one anotherand substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the associatedpartition.